The Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5 is the latest console-focused headset from the boutique gaming manufacturer. Armed with the same 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers and HyperSense haptics as the original model, this minor revision, which features the brand’s Hyperspeed low latency wireless connectivity, makes for a solid product but doesn’t address our issues with the first Razer Kaira Pro for PlayStation.  

If you’re after one of the best PS5 headsets in 2023, then the Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5 could be worth considering. However, it’s a little too expensive and lacking in wow factor to wholeheartedly recommend to anyone wanting a truly premium audio experience on the PS5.  

Price and Availability

The Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5 was released in March 2023 and is currently available in the US, the UK, and Australia for $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$369. It’s exactly the same price as the standard Razer Kaira Pro PlayStation model from 2022; a move that makes sense since this version effectively replaces its predecessor. It’s worth noting that, while no price increase has happened, you’re paying a platform premium compared to the Razer Kaira Pro for Xbox and PC, which sells for  $149 / £149 / AU$259, a noticeable mark-up that’s hard to ignore.  

Design and Features

The Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed’s new addition to the established Razer Kaira Pro includes the Hyperspeed 2.4 GHz low latency dongle. It’s curved in such a way that you can slot it into the front of your PS5 console without obscuring the USB-A port to keep your controller charging or at the expense of your connection to the best PS5 external hard drives, if you’re lucky enough to have one.

Returning from the base Kaira Pro for PS5 model is the dual connectivity between the 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth connection. There are also dedicated volume and microphone-monitoring scroll wheels on the rear of the left and right cups, respectively. Little has changed with the "HyperClear Supercardioid Mic", which is detachable and comes on a flexy arm, as the brand has been doing for many years now. 

The earcups are plush and feature a leatherette feel as opposed to the mesh that could be found on the Xbox variant. You’ll note that the branding is spot on here, with the blue, black and white finish complimenting the PS5 well, meaning it will slot into your setup as easily as Sony’s Pulse 3D headset does.

You won’t be shocked to hear that the Razer TriForce Titanium 50mm audio drivers power the Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5 headset. These are drivers that have appeared in over half a dozen headsets since their introduction in 2020. It’s a case of if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it. That’s been the approach with the HyperSense haptics, which first appeared in the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense and the Razer Kraken V3 Pro in late 2021. Tried-and-true really is the name of the game here; nothing is new or exciting, but that’s not necessarily a problem. 

Performance

What’s good about returning internals in hardware like this is that you know exactly what you’re getting with the Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5.he Razer TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers may be a fair few years old. However, they still do a great job of bringing out the distinction between the lows, mids, and highs, just as they did back in 2020 when replacing the original TriForce drivers. 

The width of the 50mm drivers means that everything from the rumble of the micromachines in Hot Wheels Unleashed boosting around the orange plastic tracks, to the agonized screaming of Necromorphs mid-dismemberment in the Dead Space remake hits with the weight you would hope to hear on the platform. Thanks to the PS5 3D audio being available through every headset, the TriForce Titanium drivers do an excellent job of bringing the surround sound out in full force. They make listening to music nice, too. While no rival to some of the best headphones, spinning Cannibal Corpse’s Kill or Become and Vulvodynia’s Flesh Tailor hit with the right amount of weight in the bass and the drums. 

What’s disappointed me as a fan and long-time user of the Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense is how the haptics have translated here, going from wired to wireless. Regardless of which of the best PS5 games I was playing with the highest of the three settings and the volume dialed all the way up, the in-ear feedback didn’t quite live up to the intensity I was hoping for. Moments in UFC 4, such as a brutal double-leg takedown or that round-finishing spinning elbow, lacked the weight that a heavy strike should have. 

While they work a good portion of the time, things are inconsistent with the haptics in Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5. There were times when the HyperSense and the 3D Audio, combined with the haptic feedback of the DualSense controller for a truly unrivalled experience. One such moment occurred when I took a tight corner in Hot Wheels Unleashed and felt the throaty roar of the engine mid-drift through the gamepad and headset at max volume. It was a truly immersive experience, but one that stood out more as an exception to the rule rather than the status quo. 

The microphone and battery life have seen no improvement over the Razer Kaira Pro's base model. While Razer claims that you can expect around 30 hours of playback in total regardless of connectivity method, that’s only if you disable the RGB lighting and the HyperSense haptics entirely. The company suggests up to 11 hours with these features enabled, and that’s slightly more generous than I found in my experience. For the first few charges, I noticed around 10 hours, but I was charging this headset up between uses far more than with the SteelSeries Arctis 7P+ or the Astro A30 Mandalorian Edition that I use on rotation. 

The microphone on the Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5 is not great. It didn’t really matter which tweaks I made through the console’s settings or when plugged into my PC; things just sounded shrill and tinny. While completely serviceable for playing some of the best FPS games online with friends, this isn’t something that you’ll want to rely on as a replacement for one of the best microphones for streaming. It will get the job done, but I’ve heard better from cheaper gaming headsets. 

Should you buy the Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5?

Buy it if…  

You want a stable wireless connection

The Hyperspeed 2.4 GHz dongle included with the new Razer Kaira Pro for PS5 works incredibly well and takes up little space on the console’s front ports.

You’re after strong audio performance

While the TriForce Titanium 50mm drivers are nothing new, they sound great at delivering distinctive audio when playing games or listening to music. 

You want total immersion

While the wireless HyperSense in-ear haptics can be a little hit-and-miss, when they work alongside the 3D Audio and the DualSense controller, it truly feels awesome. 

Don’t buy it if…  

You want a PS5 headset with leading battery life

There’s no getting around the fact that you’ll be charging the Razer Kaira Pro Hyperspeed for PS5 up a fair amount if you want to use the RGB and haptics regularly.

You already own the Razer Kaira Pro for PS5

There’s very little that separates this from the original version, so it isn’t worth upgrading if you have the first version. 

• Best PS5 headsets for 3D audio: experience more immersive sound

The Razer Kraken Kitty Edition V2 Pro is the latest iteration of the boutique brand's long-running cutesy gaming headset range. Armed with the company’s latest audio technology and excellent comfort, this model easily has what it takes to be considered one of the best PS5 headsets or one of the best wired gaming headsets of 2023. 

As a versatile gaming headset for all occasions, the Razer Kraken Kitty Edition V2 Pro proves that there’s a lot of substance behind the style. While its pink flair is front and center, there’s more to the headset than meets the eye. 

Price and Availability

The Razer Kraken Kitty Edition V2 Pro currently retails for $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$289 and it is available in regions such as the US, the UK, and Australia as well as Europe and Asia. Released in October 2022, you can pick the headset up either through Razer’s storefront or a wide variety of online and in-store retailers. You’ve got your choice of two color schemes, either quartz pink or black and green. I’m reviewing the delightful pink version.  

Design and Features

The main draw of the Razer Kraken Kitty Edition V2 Pro is its looks. It’s adorable. Originally cat ear-focused, the Kraken headsets now sport the option for bunny and bear ears, too. What’s more, each of these interchangeable add-ons supports Razer’s RGB Chroma lighting, so you can have your ears light up and change color as you play – which can look amazing on a live stream. Previous models of the Kraken only had lighting in the cups themselves, which was much less visible.

When it comes to what’s inside the cups, It’s similar to other headsets in the Razer Kraken line, such as the excellent Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense from last year. You’re getting passive noise cancellation courtesy of the leatherette and memory foam cups, with the tried and true 50mm TriForce Titanium drivers blasting sound into your ears. As expected from a headset in this price range, 7.1 surround sound comes as standard as well for supported consoles like the PS5. 

Keep in mind that the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is a wired gaming headset with a braided USB-A cable that’s 2m / 6.7ft long. This means that you will ideally be positioned fairly close to your PS5 or Nintendo Switch if you use these on a console. While a generous length compared to some wires I’ve seen on corded headsets, you may be better suited to one of the best wireless gaming headsets if you primarily game from the sofa instead of one of the best gaming desks. Another neat touch of this package is the included Razer HyperClear Cardioid microphone which can be detached when not in use. 

Performance

Testing the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro on my PS5 and my Razer Blade 15, one of the best gaming laptops, I was generally impressed. My ears are well-tuned to the feel and the depth of sound that the 50mm Titanium TriForce drivers deliver, as the aforementioned V3 HyperSense had been my daily driver for well over a year now. 

That’s not to take away from the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro. The sound quality across the board is excellent for the under $200 / £200 / AU$300 price range, as this model punches well above its weight. In my testing, I found that Isaac Clarke’s heavy footsteps aboard the USG Ishimura in Dead Space carried the right amount of weight, with the distant wailing of Necromorphs, and slamming doors on floors below captured accurately. I’ve widely considered the 2008 original title to have some of the most atmospheric sound design of any modern horror game, and this was reflected well in one moment involving a vacuum in space as the sounds were heavily muted in flux seamlessly. 

Where the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro delivers on most is in competitive titles. Everything from the subtle gear changes of my Yamaha R1 in Ride 4, to the suitably brutal single-leg takedowns in UFC 4 made a fair bit of difference to my performance. In the former, I found myself being braver with tighter corners knowing I could hear the quick shifter engage accurately. As someone who’s ridden their fair share of bikes in the past, it was nice to get to really hear what an engine hum really sounds like at speed. 

Shooters are a joy with this gaming headset. I spent a fair few hours deeply invested in Battlefield 2042’s Team Deathmatch and Conquest modes to great success. Sniping from the top of the antenna tower on the Caspian Border map made for a true test of the in-ear drivers, capturing the sky-piercing screech of my SWS-10 rifle round as it connected with its target, the bullet’s trajectory ending with a suitably meaty thunk. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear enemy footsteps as they climbed the stairs underneath me, meaning that I could take out my would-be aggressor as they arrived at the top of the staircase. 

I’m still not fully sold on the microphone that comes with the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro. It sounds fine but it’s certainly no replacement for the best USB microphones on the market. However, considering this headset is geared at streamers and content creators, who will likely invest in a separate mic, it’s unlikely to be much of an issue. As someone who owns a lot of audio recording equipment, I was unphased by the average but expected output of the cardioid mic. I could be heard when chatting to the squad, and that’s the most important thing, after all, but you wouldn’t use this for anything other than that. 

Listening to music with the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. From how these things look, you would expect pop hits from the likes of Doja Cat, The Weeknd, Willow, and Florence + The Machine to sound full, and fortunately, this kind of music sings with this headset. The bass presence was particularly noticeable in The Weeknd’s High for This, with the hazy, thick, synths in the introduction coming through particularly strong. I was also impressed by softer-sounding songs, such as The Next 20th Century by Father John Misty and It’s Called: Freefall by Rainbow Kitten Surprise. These two tracks are noticeably stripped-back, with quieter central vocals taking prominence in the mix, and lush instrumentation acting more as a support to the singers.

Of course, I also wanted to make the bright pink kitty headset play some death metal and I can say that it passes with flying colors in the heavy department, too. Everything from the pummelling oppression of Distant’s Argent Justice to Kruelty’s beat-down-infused brutal death metal had the weight and punch to really sell the percussion and bass. Softer metal artists like Katatonia and Sleep Token, who primarily use clean vocals, could be heard prominently as well.

Overall, I really do enjoy the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro headset for what it is, but you’re paying a premium on the looks. If you’re solely interested in getting the same sound quality and comfort, then the cheaper Kraken V3 HyperSense (which retails for $129 / £129 / AU$224 and includes in-ear haptics) may be the better bet. Alternatively, there’s the Razer Kraken V3 which is exactly half the price of this newer release without the rumble. With that said, if you’re in the market for something that’s this pretty and practical, then the new Kitty model is hard to fault.

Should you buy the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro headset?

Buy if… 

You want a great headset for streaming

The RGB lighting and unique aesthetics mean that the Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is going to stand out from the majority of ‘gamer’ black models on the market when on air. 

You want excellent sound quality

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is great for both gaming and listening to music, so there’s no need to swap it out for certain functions. 

Don’t buy if…  

You want to game on the sofa

The Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro is a wired headset with a cable length of 2m / 6.7ft, so that’s a bit of stretch then you’ll want to consider a wireless alternative such as the Razer Kraken BT Kitty Edition instead. 

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